Julie Hanner of Marysville asks: I live by Marysville- Pilchuck High School. The road that runs along the school grounds is 108th Street NE. There is a sign posting the school zone speed limit as 20 mph when children are present. Is this valid only when the school is in session or any time of day and night?
The field is used a lot on nights and weekends with children present on the fields and in the parking area on the street. I always go 20 mph when I see a child anywhere in the area but get honked at quite a bit for going so slow. A friend recently got a citation in the morning and the cost was $267, so I want to avoid that!
Jim Bloodgood, Snohomish County traffic engineer, responds: According to state law, the sign applies to three situations: when children are in a crosswalk in the school zone, waiting to cross at a crosswalk in the school zone, or are walking along the roadway or sidewalk in the school zone or within 300 feet of the crosswalk.
Left-turn-only lanes
Jim Morris of Mukilteo asks: A common practice in the Puget Sound area is to pull into the center left-turn-only lane to merge into traffic on the right. In Oregon drivers are ticketed for doing so. Our left turn lanes are even marked with left-only arrows. Isn’t it illegal to turn right? Isn’t it dangerous?
Trooper Keith Leary of the State Patrol responds: You are able to use this lane to get into traffic but are limited to traveling 100 feet when traversing an intersection or railroad grade (RCW 46.61125 section B). This can be dangerous, thus the reason for paying 100 percent attention to your driving at all times.
Marine Drive safety
Kathy DeNeui of Tulalip asks: I drive Marine Drive on the Tulalip Indian Reservation daily and have witnessed, come upon, and experienced way too many accidents. I was rear-ended and my car totaled when the car ahead of me was making a left at Hermosa.
I can count at least three accidents I witnessed where people did not see oncoming traffic until the last minute. On sunny days, on a highway that’s tree lined, peoples’ eyes are going from shade to sun and cars coming out of the shadows are not easy to see until it’s too late.
I’d like to see signs asking people to drive with their headlights on. I always do, and oncoming traffic can be clearly seen much earlier. How much could it cost for about four signs that could save lives and property?
Owen Carter, Snohomish County engineer, responds: We are checking into this. We believe that since this is a regulatory sign we will need to have an ordinance by the County Council. I believe that this is a good suggestion. We will need to follow up with the sheriff’s office and the prosecuting attorney to discuss enforcement.
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